Get hands on with history at the world’s biggest celebration of archaeology this July during the 23rd annual Festival of Archaeology.

Running from Saturday July 13 to Sunday July 28, the festival includes events organised by The National Trust and English Heritage, as well as community groups and local archaeologists across the south east.

“In the current climate, it is more important than ever that members of the public understand how they can play a vital role in archaeology,” says Dr Mike Heyworth, director of the Council for British Archaeology.

“The CBA was founded in 1944 with the mission of protecting heritage through community activism in a post-war era. Archaeology is key to understanding who we are as humans, where we have come from and where we might be going. Traces of that history are all around us, dating back almost 800,000 years to the first signs of early humans in the UK.

“But if that evidence is not properly looked out for, or its significance is not understood by the public, we risk losing it forever.”

Fortunately, there’s plenty to keep aspiring archaeologists busy during the festival, across the south east.

On Saturday July 13, the Hidden History of Chobham Project Open Day will showcase the results so far of the Central South Eastern Young Archaeologists’ Club’s recent test-pitting project in Chobham, Surrey.

Or go underground and visit more than 50 medieval cellars in Winchelsea in East Sussex, with Winchelsea Archaeological Society’s Medieval Cellar Tour on Sunday July 14. Most of the cellars are vaulted and were built around 1290 to 1300 at the same time as the original town.

In Hampshire, visitors can see artefacts featured on Channel 4’s Time Team programme at an exhibition organised by the Three Rivers Museum Trust at Basing House, High Street, Basingstoke from Monday July 15 to Saturday July 27.

Archaeologists in Berkshire can discover the mysteries of Ancient Egypt at the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology in Reading on Wednesday July 24, where participants can mummify a fish and create their own Egyptian model mummy, complete with a coffin.

Meanwhile, Dig it! at Butser Ancient Farm includes artefact identification, games, water divining, dressing up and metal detecting in atmospheric Iron Age and Roman surroundings on Saturday July 27.

• For further information on the Festival of Archaeology, visit www.archaeologyfestival.org.uk/whatson

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SOUTH EAST LISTINGS

The South East of England boasts a wealth of archaeological heritage which will be brought alive by local archaeologists and historians during the Festival of British Archaeology. Individual events across the region are listed below:

Description: The ancient Egyptian art of mummification is one of the most fascinating mysteries of antiquity and today you’ll have the chance to discover some of those secrets. We’ll mummify a fish together and then you’ll make your own ancient Egyptian model mummy complete with bandages and coffin case ready to safely travel to the afterlife, or come home with.

Description: Have you ever wondered why Greek pots look the way they do? Their shapes and colours are not casual or meaningless and today you will have the chance to understand them better and test your new knowledge while having fun exploring the museum. Then you’ll become a Greek artist and make your own pot out of modrock.

Description: The beautiful images on Greek pots tell us so much about the ancient world. They tell us the fabulous stories of Greek mythology, they show us moments of the life of people who lived thousands of years ago, they display the incredible talent of the Greek artists. Today we’ll explore the museum to look at those images and learn how the Greeks used the brush to tell us stories. Then we’ll paint our own pot to take home.

Cost: £3.

Telephone: 0118 37 6990.

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BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Saturday 6 July

Hands-On Archaeology

Time: 2pm to 4pm.

Venue: Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, High Wycombe, HP13 6PX,

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 01494 421 895.

Saturday/Sunday 13 & 14 July, Saturday/Sunday 27 and 28 July

Archaeology Days At The Cowper & Newton Museum

Time: 11am to 4pm.

Venue: Cowper & Newton Museum, Market Place, Olney, MK46 4AJ.

Description: Get down and dirty for our two new Archaeology Weekends. Both Saturdays we encourage you to bring any of your archaeological objects to be identified by our visiting Finds Liaison Officer. On both Sundays we’ll hold archaeologically awesome activities for children and adults alike.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 01234 711 516.

Saturday/Sunday 27 to 28 July

Medicine Through The Ages

Time: 11am to 3pm daily.

Venue: Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre, Bradwell Abbey, MK13 9AP.

Description: Join us Bradwell Abbey the remains of a medieval monastery, for an opportunity to view a number of historic artefacts related to medicine. There’ll be tours of the Pilgrimage Chapel of Our Lady which developed a reputation for miraculous healing powers during the 14th century. It now houses medieval wall paintings depicting pilgrimage and the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel. Enjoy guided medicinal herb walks around the site which features a herb garden and medieval fish ponds.

Cost: FREE.01908 227 229.

Telephone:

Saturday 27 July

Art History In Word & Image In The Medieval Church

Time: 3pm.

Venue: St Lawrence’s Church, London Road, Milton Keynes, MK10 9AA.

Description: A talk by Professor Richard Marks in a small church with Medieval wall paintings.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 07966 341 674.

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EAST SUSSEX

Monday 1 July to Saturday 10 August

Roads, Rivers & Romans – A Roman Town On The Upper Ouse

Time: 9am to 5pm.

Venue: Bridge Farm, Barcombe Mills Road, Ringmer, BN8 5BX.

Description: Four large excavation trenches will be open. Come and see how archaeologists work, how we excavate a site, how we record and how we come to our conclusions.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 07958 971 453.

Sunday 14 July

Under Winchelsea Medieval Cellar Tour

Time: 2pm to 3.45pm.

Venue: Castle Street, Winchelsea, TN36 4EL.

Description: Winchelsea boasts more than 50 medieval cellars, a number rivalled only in Southampton and Norwich. Most of the cellars are vaulted and were built around 1290 to 1300 at the same time as the original town. Winchelsea Archaeological Society conducts tours of the cellars. Find out why and how they were built, and learn something of the history of the ancient town of Winchelsea.

Cost: £5 (including a guidebook to the cellars).

Telephone: 01797 224 446.

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HAMPSHIRE

Monday 1 July to Sunday 11 August

Silchester Roman Town Excavation

Time: 10am to 5pm daily.

Venue: Silchester Roman Town, Silchester, RG7 2HH.

Description: Watch the archaeologists in action and enjoy a site tour of the excavations. As well as being shown around the excavations, visitors will have the opportunity to look at finds from the site, talk to archaeological specialists and hear about other work being carried out by the Department of Archaeology, Reading. This will be an opportunity to talk to those who work in archaeology, study archaeology and write about archaeology.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 07912 998 970,

Wednesday 17 July

Visit To Greywill Hill House

Time: 2pm.

Venue: Greywell Hill House, Greywell, RG29 1DG.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 01252 614 337.

Friday 26 July

Dig It! At Butser Ancient Farm

Time: 10am to 5pm.

Venue: Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, PO8 0BG.

Description: A hands-on archaeology day for all the family including artefact identification, games, water divining, dressing up and metal detecting in atmospheric Iron Age and Roman surroundings.

Description: For one weekend only, Hayling Island will be home to its very own pop-up museum. Located in the beautifully restored barn at Northney Farm Tea Rooms, the museum will showcase the amazing archaeology of North Hayling and in particular the Hayling Island Roman Temple site which is located less than a mile from the site of the museum. The pop-up museum will host static displays as well as a series of tours and guided activities including opportunities to handle find from the temple.

Cost: FREE.

Saturday/Sunday 27 to 28 July

Saxon Invasion!

Time: 10.30am to 4pm daily.

Venue: Portsmouth City Museum, Museum Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ.

Description: We’ll give you the chance to meet the first Germanic settlers of the Meon Valley, the Meonwara. There’ll be displays and timed demonstrations during the day, some more energetic than others! Our local Finds Liaison Officer will be on hand to identify your archaeological finds whether from your back garden or further afield.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 02392 826 722.

Sunday 28 July

Rockbourne Archaeology Festival

Time: 11am to 4pm.

Venue: Rockbourne Roman Villa, Rockbourne, SP6 3PG.

Description: In 1942, Rockbourne Roman Villa was discovered by a ferret and a farmer. Now it’s your turn! Join us for a celebration of the area’s archaeological heritage. Explore the site with Musa, the villa’s mistress, and make some Roman perfume using herbs and plants from our reconstructed Roman garden. There’ll be lots more to see and do for all ages.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 0845 603 5635.

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SURREY

Saturday 13 July

Hidden History Of Chobham Project Open Day

Time: 12pm to 4pm.

Venue: Chobham Village Hall, Station Road, GU24 8AQ

Description: The day will showcase the results so far of the central South Eastern Young Archaeologists’ Club’s recent test-pitting project in Chobham. There’ll be a variety of activities on the day including a short talk and display on the project; a chance to meet some of the archaeologists and Young Archaeological Clubs involved in the project; plans and maps of Chobham showing the locations of the dig; a project display including finds from the test pits; opportunities to get hands-on with finds washing; marking and sorting and family-friendly mini-digs.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 01483 518 737.

Saturday 13 July

Church Meadow Excavation Open Day

Time: 11am to 3pm.

Venue: Church Meadow, Church Street, Ewell, KT17 2AQ.

Cost: FREE.

Saturday 20 July

Up Pontes! Fun And Games In Roman Spelthorne

Time: 11am.

Venue: Spelthorne Museum, Elmsleigh Road, Staines, TW18 4PN.

Description: Dress as a Roman soldier and search for the Lost Eagle of the North; see who can be the first to build the bridge over the River Thames which gave Staines its Roman name; play our brand new chariot racing game; make a laurel wreath for yourself and a slave tag for a member of your family; and create your own Roman style jewellery and mosaics.

Venue: The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Church Lane, Climping, BN17 5RB.

Description: A guided tour of the four historic churches in the Arun Valley between Climping and Arundel. This 4-mile walk will predominantly follow the route of the River Arun and knowledgeable guides will provide details along the way of four magnificent churches and the surrounding area.

Cost: FREE.

Saturday/Sunday 20 and 21 July

Living History – Roman Life At Bignor Roman Villa

Time: 10am to 4pm.

Venue: Bignor Roman Villa, Bignor, RH20 1PH.

Description: Bignor Roman Villa, the stunning remains of a Roman home and farm with world-class mosaic floors in a spectacular down land setting. Come and learn more about the Roan way of life and the history of this villa. Learn why the Roman owners chose to develop such a magnificent settlement at Bignor in the third century AD and how they acquired wealth from its location. As you walk around this magnificent villa, you’ll be able to appreciate the craftsmanship and expense that was used to create Bignor’s brightly-plastered walls and exquisite mosaic floors. Visitors can clearly see the construction of mosaic floors above a hypocaust to give this home the ultimate of luxuries, under floor heating. See the scale of the site that employed so many people. The North Corridor, only one third exposed, is the longest on display in the country. Take advantage of a tour of the villa and meet Raven Tor Living History Group as they recreate Roman life at Bignor.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 01798 869 259.

Tuesday 23 July to Friday 2 August

Digging At The Palace

Time: 11am to 4pm daily.

Venue: Roman Way, Fishbourne, PO19 3QR.

Description: Become an archaeologist for a day. Experience hands-on excavation, finds cleaning, recording and conservation.

Cost: FREE.

Telephone: 01243 785 859.

Saturday 27 July

Hands-On Archaeology

Time: 11am.

Venue: Arundel Museum, Mill Road, Arundel, BN18 9PA.

Cost: FREE.

Saturday/Sunday 27 to 28 July

Cuckfield ROC Nuclear Bunker

Time: 11am to 8pm Saturday; 9am to midnight Sunday.

Venue: Newbury Lane, Cuckfield, RH17 5JZ.

Description: Built in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, this Royal Observer Corps nuclear monitoring post was for a three-man team to record the bomb blasts from a nuclear attack and record and warn the public of the aftermath of the radiation. The bunker has been restored to how it looked during the 1980s before its closure in 1991.